Posted December 3, 2009

Medical Malpractice


Fourth DCA Finds That Laser Hair Removal Is Medical Procedure And Subject To The Requirements Of Chapter 766

Dr. Navarro's Vein Centre of the Palm Beach, Inc. v. Miller,
34 FLW 2395 (Fla. 4th DCA Nov. 18, 2009)
Submitted by  Dorothy Venable DiFiore

The Fourth DCA reversed a trial court's order denying a motion to dismiss a malpractice claim alleging that the physician improperly performed cosmetic electrolysis. The Fourth District held that laser hair removal is a medical procedure because it must be performed by a physician or a non-physician supervised by a physician pursuant to §458.348(3), Fla. Stat. (2008). The court stated, "despite the plaintiff's creative dance around the obvious, this complaint alleges a claim of medical negligence. As such, the plaintiff must comply with the presuit screening process." Note also that the court granted certiorari to review the denial of a motion to dismiss in this case, because allowing the case to proceed with to a judgment only to be reversed on appeal would "eliminate the very cost-saving procedures for which the Act was created."

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